Exposed in Darkness

by Heather Sunseri

  Mrs. G had worked magic when she’d arrived this morning. I was dressed in the emerald green and white dress I had chosen the day before. The bodice was fitted, but the skirt was made of a stiff fabric that easily hid my thigh holster and concealed pockets for my badge, phone, and lipstick. I didn’t bother with a purse. My hair hung in loose curls down my back, and a hat, matching my dress, sat perfectly on my head, making it difficult—but thankfully not impossible—for Declan to nuzzle closely when he wanted to.

  The crowd on the sixth floor was thinner than it had been on the first level. Thoroughbred trainers and owners were glad-handing with each other, along with politicians and celebrities. And there was no shortage of officers, from both the Kentucky State Police and the Lexington Police Department. Several federal agents—men and women in dark pantsuits—were also scattered among the people actually there to watch horse racing.

  Declan flashed our passes to attendants at every door we passed until we arrived at the entrance of one of the corporate suites. On the door a brass placard read “O’Roark Industries—Declan O’Roark, CEO.” As we entered, I immediately recognized several people I knew, including Truman, his assistant, and his press secretary. Aidan was there with a date, a platinum blond girl in a fitted, midriff-showing, two-piece dress. She couldn’t have been more than five feet tall, and that included three-inch heels. Her wide-brimmed hat was almost as big as she was.

  Several people immediately came over to shake Declan’s hand. After welcoming them and introducing me, he turned to me and asked quietly, “You okay?”

  I nodded. “Just analyzing our surroundings.”

  “Relax. The bad guys are put away. You put them away. They definitely won’t get to us in here.”

  I let out a small laugh. “You’re right.” I sucked in a deep breath, then let it out slowly.

  “Come on. There’re some people I’d like you to meet.”

  We made our way over to a man dressed in a light gray plaid suit and a pink tie with miniature thoroughbreds embroidered in the silk fabric. The woman on his arm wore a matching pink dress and a gray pillbox hat, her hair styled in a short, layered bob.

  Declan shook the man’s hand and clapped him on the shoulder. “Mac, glad you could come.”

  “Glad to be here. On Liam’s Watch ready?” Mac asked.

  “I sure hope so,” he answered without an ounce of worry. Always so confident. “I’d like to introduce you to Brooke Fairfax. Brooke, this is McCauley Kale and his wife, Lily.”

  “It’s nice to meet you both.” I gave them a wave with my bandaged arm.

  “Call me Mac,” McCauley said, and I nodded.

  “That doesn’t look fun at all,” Lily said, gesturing to my arm. “I bet there’s a story behind that.

  “Yes. A long, boring one,” I laughed.

  Declan saved me by quickly changing the subject. “Mac is due to be sworn in as Truman’s lieutenant governor on Monday.”

  “That’s wonderful. I hadn’t realized he had picked someone. Congratulations.”

  As the men continued talking, I could feel the heat of someone’s gaze behind me. When I took my eyes away from Mac and Lily Kale, I immediately found the source of my discomfort.

  The director of the FBI was standing just inside the door of the suite with Mike and Carlos.

  “Declan, Brooke,” Truman said as he sidled up to me. He leaned in and gave me a hug and kiss to my cheek. “I see that you’ve met Mac and Lily.”

  “I did. I was just congratulating him on becoming your next lieutenant governor.”

  “Mac,” Truman said as he looked around, presumably to see who was within earshot. “Brooke is the one I was speaking to you about this morning.” They traded looks, and then Mac apparently clued in to what Truman was talking about.

  “Oh, wow. I had no idea. That was an impressive takedown last night.”

  I shifted uncomfortably. My eyes darted over my shoulder to the director and back. “Thank you,” I said, “but let’s not talk about such subjects. Not today.” I forced my voice to be light and airy.

  “I agree,” Lily said, touching my arm playfully. “Today is for nothing but fun. No shop talk.”

  “Okay, okay,” Mac said. “But I want you to be there Monday for my swearing-in ceremony. Declan, you and Brooke must both come. We can talk shop then.”

  By “shop,” I knew immediately what he was talking about. Truman must have mentioned his desire for me to run a reconstituted Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, especially in light of what the FBI and law enforcement had stopped last night by working closely together.

  “I’m not sure of my plans after this weekend,” I said, and Declan tensed beside me. “But if I’m still in town, I would love to attend the ceremony. If you’ll excuse me for a moment, though, I see someone I must say hello to.”

  “It was nice to meet you,” Lily said. Her husband nodded.

  “We’ll talk later.” Truman winked at me and gave me that brotherly nod he sometimes did. He seemed more relaxed today after last night’s “takedown,” as Mac called it.

  Declan followed me away from the group. “Were you just trying to escape, or is there really someone here you need to say hello to?”

  “I need to meet with Carlos and Mike for a few minutes to get the latest.”

  Declan glanced toward the door. “Who’s that with them?”

  My heart sped up just a bit. “That’s the director of the FBI. He’s here to see me.”

  Declan studied me. “More of those layers are peeking through, Agent.”

  “You have no idea,” I answered.

  “Would you like me to come with you? This is a social event, after all, and we are in my corporate suite. I’m happy to give you an extra layer of protection.”

  As sweet as that was, Declan O’Roark could not protect me against the FBI director. I placed a hand on his chest. “Enjoy yourself. I’ll find you soon.”

  “If you don’t, I’ll come looking for you.”

  I didn’t doubt that he would do just that, so I would have to handle this quickly.

  I walked over to the director, Mike, and Carlos. “Gentlemen,” I said. “How’s our trio of terrorists this morning?”

  “Very uncooperative,” Carlos answered.

  “They’re not denying that someone else was involved,” Mike added, “but they’re not giving anyone up, either.”

  The director remained silent, watching me.

  “Any sense that something more was planned for today?” I asked.

  “They’re saying nothing.”

  “I spoke with Ty this morning.” I glanced at each of them, ignoring the look the director was giving me. He would not have approved of me using Ty, as he, too, was former FBI. “He’s seen no activity in the chat rooms or anywhere on the dark web.”

  “Brooke,” the director finally said. “A word?”

  “Of course.”

  The director opened the door and held it for me to pass. We walked alone past wagering windows and another bar outside the corporate suites. He led me away from the crowd, down a hallway to an area of administrative offices, and into a security room, where personnel sat facing walls of monitors, watching the crowds that were filling Kensington Race Track. But the director strode right past all of it, through another doorway that led to a private room no bigger than a broom closet, with a small desk and metal chair. If I had to guess, it was intended as a holding room for anyone who might get out of hand while at the races.

  I removed the pins from my hat and set the hat on the desk. Then I turned and faced the director, studying the analytical look he was giving me. Swallowing all emotion, I walked into his arms. “Hi, Dad.”

  Chapter 38

  Declan

  I watched helplessly as Brooke passed through the door of my suite, followed by the FBI director. When Agents Donaldson and Salazar didn’t follow, I tensed further, letting my fingers close into fists.

  So much had happened, and not knowing much ab
out her past or why she had left the Bureau, I was sure her relationship with the director was complicated.

  “Hey, man,” Aidan said, stepping beside me. “You and the little bird appear to be getting on okay.”

  I eyed him sideways.

  He immediately threw up his arms. “Hey, I’m not judging. I’m sure she’s a fine lass. I was just wondering how much you know about her.”

  “Enough.”

  “Okay. Okay. Well, we’ve got a horse coming up in race five that I’m expecting to fare very well. Be ready for a stroll to the winner’s circle around then.”

  “Oh. Okay. That’s great.” The last week had been so insane that I really hadn’t had time to fully prepare for today. Luckily, I paid many good people to keep me ready for anything and everything. “Who’s your date?” I asked.

  “Kate Weston. A former Olympic gymnast.” He wiggled his brows. “Can you imagine the positions she can get into?”

  I shook my head, laughing. “Will you ever settle down?”

  “Oh, and you’re an expert on the subject of settling down?”

  He had a point, but I’d definitely felt different since I’d met Brooke. I certainly didn’t like that she’d told Truman and his new lieutenant governor that she might not be here on Monday.

  I glanced over Aidan’s shoulder when I saw Mike and Carlos exit the room.

  “You and Kate are going to join us for lunch, right?” I asked Aidan.

  “Of course. I’ll be in and out.”

  “Sounds good. Tell Kate to make herself at home.” I headed after Carlos and Mike.

  They hadn’t made it far. They were huddled in a corner just outside the suite. When I approached them, they both stiffened.

  “Mr. O’Roark.”

  “Agent Donaldson, Agent Salazar. Good work last night.” I shook their hands. “That could have turned very ugly. Thank you.”

  “You have Agent Fairfax to thank. It was her quick thinking and analysis that led us to stopping the attack. And your chemist was a big help as well.”

  “Do you think the threat is over?” I asked. “Governor Spencer appears relaxed in there, and I know you arrested at least three people, but—”

  “Mr. O’Roark, we can’t talk to you about an ongoing investigation.”

  “Well, can you tell me where Agent Fairfax went? Since she is ‘mostly off-duty,’ according to her, I thought I would show her what it was like to be in the winner’s circle.”

  A warm smile touched Agent Salazar’s lips as he started to speak, but Agent Donaldson cut him off. “No, I’m afraid not.”

  I straightened. I didn’t know what it was about this agent, but I didn’t like him. Did he have a history with Brooke—a former boyfriend, maybe?

  “Well, then, I’ll let the two of you get back to your jobs.” I turned and reentered my suite.

  “You look like you could use a drink,” Truman said. “How about we go out and watch the fifth race?”

  As race five went off, and Brooke hadn’t returned, the uneasy feeling in my gut grew.

  Chapter 39

  “Let me look at you.” Dad held me at arm’s length. “You look beautiful, Brooke.”

  “Thanks. I’ve missed you.”

  “Well, I certainly wouldn’t know by all the phone calls.”

  “I’m sorry. I just wasn’t ready.”

  “But you felt the need to save Teddy’s brother without telling me.”

  “Dad, that’s not fair.”

  “No, it’s not. But you’re my baby girl, and I don’t have to be fair where you’re concerned.” He took a breath and let it out. “We’ll catch up about everything eventually, but I believe I made a deal with you.”

  “You did.”

  “The information I promised you will be delivered to you first thing tomorrow morning. You may share it with Agent Donaldson, but no one else. I made the same deal with him, except I told him it was entirely up to you whether he even got to see the information. You don’t have to tell him why you were unable to get to Teddy that night. That’s your story to share or to bury. Up to you.”

  I nodded, thankful that my secret was safe.

  “Now…” He reached down and lifted my injured arm. “…Want to tell me how that source got close enough to break your arm?”

  “It’s just a sprain, and you can read about it in my reports.”

  “I already did. I also saw the pictures from last night. He’s been following you. He seems to be fixated on you.”

  “What do you want me to say?”

  “I want you to say that you’ll stay with the Bureau. That you’ll take on a partner who can watch your back.”

  I crossed my arms the best I could, mostly out of habit. “I just don’t know what I want to do, Dad. I came to Kentucky because Truman needed me. I’m glad I could help. And I won’t say I didn’t enjoy taking down those idiots last night.”

  “How about you take a few days to think about it?” He crossed his arms and leaned against the far wall. “I hear you have another job offer.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Do you have someone watching me?”

  He laughed. “Of course not. I overheard Governor Spencer speaking to his new lieutenant governor. I’m good at what I do, Brooke.”

  “Of course you are.”

  “For example, it doesn’t take FBI superpowers to see that you’ve got a new man in your life.”

  I smiled. “Is that what your analysis is telling you?”

  He tilted his head side to side. “I just hope you’ll tell me this time. When you’re ready. And your mother would love a phone call.”

  Guilt twisted in my stomach. I had so much in my life I needed to work on. “I will,” I said softly.

  “Okay, let’s move on. Enough of the personal stuff. Let’s talk about this case. I’ve read the reports. I listened to what Donaldson and Salazar had to say. I want to hear your analysis.”

  “There’s someone else, Dad. I feel it in my gut. I think we crippled whatever they had planned by stopping last night’s attack, but I have a hard time believing that those three rookie activists acted on their own. Someone else is behind these attacks. And for something more than stopping a single bill.”

  He rubbed his hand back and forth along his beard. “You think an attack is imminent? Today, even?”

  “We’ve received no information suggesting that. And my source hasn’t helped much.”

  “Well, there are enough federal agents and police officers here today to hopefully stop anything planned. I’ve received no word of anything suspicious so far. So, since you’re supposed to be off-duty, and since you’re technically under my direction while you’re still carrying that badge in your pocket and the gun on your thigh …”

  I eyed him curiously. He was certainly good at sizing people up.

  “… I order you to take the day off. Agent Donaldson will inform you if anything develops that needs your attention.”

  “I can live with that.”

  “Do I get to meet this Declan O’Roark?”

  I couldn’t stop the widening of my eyes. “Why?”

  “Well, I figure if there’s a man that Agent Donaldson dislikes this much but my daughter likes… he must be an okay guy.”

  “Well, when you put it that way. I suppose.”

  After I’d reattached my hat, Dad and I made our way back to the corporate suite. Just before entering, I grabbed his arm and stopped him. “Dad, before we go in, I have one question about Teddy’s case files.”

  “I’ll answer if I can.”

  “Do you know how Declan’s name got in those files? Where had he and Teddy crossed paths? I don’t remember him ever mentioning Declan O’Roark, and I worked closely on that case.”

  “From what I could tell, the name was given to him by Truman. I assumed Teddy wanted to speak to a chemist, and Truman just happened to know one.”

  “Jack Waller, I’d like you to meet Declan O’Roark. Declan, Director Jack Waller.”

  “S
o formal,” Dad said when I introduced him to Declan. “It’s nice to meet you, Declan.”

  Declan reached out and shook Dad’s hand. “You, too, Director.”

  A server brought a tray of drinks over—summer juleps in honor of the Bluegrass Derby. I gladly took one and took a healthy sip. Declan and Dad also took summer juleps of their own.

  “Please.” Dad waved Declan off. “Call me Jack. No need to be so formal when I’m pretty sure you’re sleeping with my daughter.”

  My eyes slammed shut, and my face darkened three shades of red. No one said anything for what seemed like an eternity. When I opened my eyes, Declan was smiling.

  “Well… Jack…” He emphasized Dad’s first name. “I assume you came to the Derby on business, but I hope you have a little time to enjoy the festivities. And since you are Brooke’s father, I hope that you will accept my personal invitation to enjoy my suite and everything it has to offer.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate that. Since I’m certain my agents and law enforcement have everything under control, I think I’ll take you up on that. That’s also why I ordered Brooke to take the day off.”

  “She deserves it,” Declan said. He slid an arm around me. “Let’s all get some food before this day gets really crazy.”

  “Sounds good.” Dad took a drink. “I’ve already got money on your horse in the fourteenth. I hope he doesn’t let me down.”

  Declan had been right. The day sped up from there. I accompanied him to the paddock to saddle three horses, back to the suite to watch races, and to the winner’s circle for two photos. It was invigorating to see Declan—and Aidan, if I was being honest—enjoy so much success.

  When the race just before the feature went off, Declan approached me on the balcony overlooking the track. “Your father seems… nice.”

  I let a playful grin spread across my face. “He’s the director of the FBI. He would shoot you in both legs simply for calling him that.”

  “I saw the way he looked at you. That was all I needed to know about him.”